Cots and adjusting devices for cots

ABSTRACT

A cot includes a base, a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls extending above the base. A transverse wall is detachably secured across the cot above the base between the side walls at a position partway along the length of the cot and serves to reduce the effective length of the cot.

This invention relates to cots. More particularly the invention relatesto a cot whose effective length is adjustable, to a cot adjusting devicefor adjusting the effective length of a cot and to a method of adjustingthe effective length of a cot.

The length of a conventional cot is chosen having regard to the biggestchild that the cot is designed to receive. In principle, the greater thelength of the cot, the older the child can be whilst still beingcomfortable in the cot and therefore there are good reasons for adesigner of a cot to make the cot as long as possible. That, however,gives rise to a problem when the child is much smaller and the length ofthe child is much less than that of the cot. If the bedding for the cotis arranged as it would be for a bigger child, then the smaller childwill be placed in the cot with its head at one end of the cot and itsfeet will then be at a middle region of the cot; there is then nothingto stop the child shifting a substantial distance down the cot during anight's sleep and perhaps waking up at the end of the night with itsfeet at the bottom of the cot; in that case the child's head may becompletely smothered by the bedding. In order to alleviate the problemjust mentioned, the bedding for a smaller child may be arranged to allowfor the child's head to be in a middle region of the cot, with thebedding covering the child extending between the middle and the bottomof the cot; that is a better arrangement but it is not problem-free: forexample, the child may shift up the cot during the night and becomeuncovered by the bedding or may pull the bedding up over its head. Afurther disadvantage of both the arrangements just described is that thechild's head may be in a middle region of the cot and it is not unusualto provide a mattress with a waterproof cover in that middle region.Such an arrangement is clearly dangerous and may even lead to cot death.

It is an object of the invention to provide a cot, an adjusting devicefor a cot and a method of adjusting a cot that overcomes or mitigatesthe problems referred to above.

The present invention provides a cot including a base, a pair of sidewalls and a pair of end walls extending above the base, and a transversewall movably secured across the cot above the base between the sidewalls at a position partway along the length of the cot, the transversewall serving to reduce the effective length of the cot.

Preferably the transverse wall is detachably secured across the cot.

With such a cot, the transverse wall can be secured in position for asmaller child but, after the child has grown or when a longer child isto be accommodated, the transverse wall can be moved or removed.Preferably the transverse wall defines the effective bottom end of thecot for the child's feet.

Preferably the transverse wall is securable across the cot in aplurality of different positions along the length of the cot. Thus theeffective length of the cot may be adjusted to any one of a plurality ofdifferent lengths. The effective length of the cot may even becontinuously variable although such fine adjustment of the length is notnormally required.

Whilst the transverse wall may be secured in the cot in any appropriateway, it is preferably detachably secured to the side walls of the cot.The device chosen for detachably securing the transverse wall may be ofany suitable kind but is preferably one designed to be fixed andreleased quickly.

The side walls of the cot may include a plurality of upright bars and inthat case the transverse wall is preferably secured in place by the barsof the side walls of the cot. The transverse wall may be secured inplace by opposite ends of the wall fitting between adjacent bars of thecot and also pressing outwardly against the side walls of the cot,and/or by fastening devices fastening the opposite ends of the wall tobars of the cot.

The transverse wall may be arranged to be detached from the cot bymovement of the wall relative to the cot in a direction towards the topend of the cot, that being the opposite direction to that in which achild will apply pressure to the transverse wall when it is located atthe child's feet.

Preferably the transverse wall is secured to the cot in a manner thatprevents vertical movement of the transverse wall when it is fullysecured. Such an arrangement enables the transverse wall to be clampedon top of bedding in the cot, squashing the bedding so as to prevent anypart of a child extending beyond the transverse wall.

There may be no need for the transverse wall, which is designed for usewhen a child is small, to extend above the base as far as the end andside walls and the height to which the transverse wall extends above thebase of the cot may be substantially less than the height to which theside walls and end walls extend above the base. The transverse wallshould be sufficiently high to reduce the effective length of the cot;by keeping the height of the wall as low as reasonable, the size andweight of the wall is reduced making it easier to handle.

Whilst the transverse wall may be made of an open framework constructionlike the sides of many cots and the ends of some cots it is preferablysubstantially solid and indeed the ends of the cot are preferablysubstantially solid. There is then no opportunity for a part of a childto pass through the wall and perhaps become caught in it.

Preferably the transverse wall extends across substantially the wholedistance from one side wall to the other. The length of the transversewall is preferably adjustable to allow the wall to be fixed to any oneof a variety of cots. The feature of length adjustability may beprovided in any appropriate way; for example, the transverse wall may beformed of members slidably connected together. In one embodiment of theinvention a fastening device is provided to fix two members againstrelative sliding movement and thereby fix the length of the transversewall at a selected length; in another embodiment of the invention themembers are resiliently biased towards an extended condition of thetransverse wall but can be slid relative to one another against theresilient bias to a more retracted condition. The resilient bias may beprovided by one or more springs or by resilient foam contained withinthe members. In the case where the members are resiliently biased, thewall may be retracted, then placed in a desired location in the cot andthen the wall extended such that ends of the wall become located betweenbars on side walls of the cot.

The present invention further provides a cot as defined above andfurther including a mattress and bedding extending over substantiallythe whole length of the cot, the transverse wall bearing down on themattress and bedding to define the effective end of the mattress andbedding.

The transverse wall may be provided as part of a cot when the cot isfirst manufactured and sold. It is also possible, however, to providethe transverse wall as an accessory to be fitted to a cot that has beenpurchased separately. Accordingly the present invention further providesa cot adjusting device for use in adjusting the effective length of acot, the device including a transverse wall and securing means forsecuring the wall across a cot at a position partway along the length ofthe cot, the transverse wall serving to reduce the effective length ofthe cot. The cot adjusting device preferably includes the variousfeatures defined above with reference to the entire cot.

The present invention further provides a method of adjusting theeffective length of a cot, the method including the step of detachablysecuring a transverse wall to a cot which includes a base, a pair ofside walls and a pair of end walls extending above the base, thetransverse wall extending across the cot above the base between the sidewalls at a position partway along the length of the cot, the transversewall serving to reduce the effective length of the cot. Preferably, themethod further includes the step of detaching the transverse wall fromthe cot and detachably securing it to the cot in another positionpartway along the length of the cot, the transverse wall serving toreduce the effective length of the cot to a different extent from whenin its previous position.

By way of example certain embodiments of the invention will now bedescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cot including a cot length adjustingdevice fitted thereto,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view from the rear of the cot length adjustingdevice,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view from the front of the cot length adjustingdevice,

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one of the securing devices used tosecure the adjusting device to the cot,

FIG. 5 is a perspective view from the rear of a modified form of the cotlength adjusting device of FIGS. 2 and 3, with the securing devices notattached,

FIG. 6 is a perspective view from the rear of a suitable securingdevice,

FIG. 7 is a rear elevation view of a first member of an alternative formof cot length adjusting device,

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the first member of the alternativedevice,

FIG. 9 is a rear elevation view of a second member of the alternativedevice,

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the second member of the alternativedevice,

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the alternative device with the first andsecond members assembled together, and

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a cot fitted with the alternativedevice.

FIG. 1 shows a cot having a top end wall 1, a bottom end wall 2, a pairof side walls 3, 4 including vertical bars 3A, 4A and a base 5. A cotlength adjusting device 6 generally comprising a transverse wall 7 andsecuring devices 8 is provided partway along the length of the cot. Asshown in FIGS. 2 and 3 the transverse wall 7 is formed of a pair oftelescopic members 9, 10, an inner member 9 being slidably receivedwithin an outer member 10. A thumb screw 11 mounted on the back of theouter member 10 can be turned to bear against the inner member 9 and fixthe inner and outer members together to prevent relative slidingmovement.

At the distal ends of the members 9, 10 respective securing devices 8are mounted on the back faces of the members. As shown in FIG. 4, eachsecuring device comprises a U shaped bracket 20 and a metal plate 12.The ends of the limbs of the U of the bracket 20 are fixed by suitablemeans to the members 9, 10. The metal plate 12 has a flat part 13abutting the bracket 20 and a C shaped end 14 defining with the bracket20 an opening 15 for receiving a cot bar. The flat part 13 is providedwith a pair of thumb screws 16, 17 which pass through the part 13 andare received in screw-threaded holes in the bracket 20 so thattightening of the thumb screws 16, 17 serves to fasten the metal plate12 tightly to the bracket 20.

The length adjusting device 6 can be secured to the cot at any selectedposition along the length of the cot where there are bars 3A, 4A. Tosecure the device 6, the metal plates 12 are detached or loosened fromtheir fastening to the brackets 20 and the transverse wall 7 positionedon the forward sides of a pair of bars 3A, 4A to which the wall 7 is tobe attached with the brackets 20 resting against the bars 3A, 4A. Themetal plates 13 are then fixed to the brackets 20 with the bars 3A, 4Areceived in the openings 15 formed between the plates 13 and thebrackets 20. When the thumb screws 16, 17 are tightened the transversewall 7 becomes fixed securely to the side walls 3, 4 of the cot at theselected position.

If the transverse wall 7 has not previously been fitted to the cot it ispreferable for the wall to be fitted with the thumb screw 11 loose toallow the transverse wall 7 to adjust in length to match the precisespacing of the side walls 3, 4 of the cot. Once the wall 7 is secured tothe sides of the cot the thumb screw 11 can be tightened and should notneed any further adjustment unless or until the device 6 is used on adifferent cot.

Whilst no bedding is shown in FIG. 1, it should be understood that thecot of FIG. 1 is used with ordinary bedding which extends over the fulllength of the cot. The bedding is arranged with the transverse wall 7out of the cot or raised towards the top of the bars 3A, 4A. Once thebedding has been arranged the wall 7 is brought back into position,pressed into the bedding and secured in that position by tightening thethumb screws 16, 17. The wall 7 then defines the effective bottom end ofthe cot so that the effective length of the cot is reduced; in the caseof the wall position shown in FIG. 1 the length is about half the fulllength of the cot. The face of the wall 7 exposed to a child in the cotis free of any projections or the like which might lead to injury of achild. The pressure of the wall 7 on the bedding also assists to keepthe bedding in position in the cot.

The wall 7 can easily be raised or removed to allow the bedding to bechanged and, as the child grows, the wall 7 can be moved down the cot tosuccessive bars, thereby gradually increasing the length of the cot.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a modified form of transverse wall 7: firstly theouter telescopic member 10 has an incomplete rear side in order toreduce the cost and weight of the member; secondly the brackets 20 andmetal plates 12 are replaced by a single component 18 which is securedover studs 19 by fasteners (not shown) which are secured on the studs19.

It will be understood that various modifications may be made to theembodiments of the invention described above. For example, other methodsof fixing the transverse wall to the cot may be adopted utilizing, forexample, known fixing devices that can be fixed and released quickly byhand. The invention can be applied to a cot with a side that can belowered; in that case, if the transverse wall is secured to the movableside it is of course especially advantageous for the fixing of thetransverse wall to the movable side to be quickly releasable.

FIGS. 7 to 12 show an alternative form of cot length adjusting devicewhich is especially simple to manufacture and to use. The devicecomprises two members moulded from plastics material with one slidablyand telescopically mounted in the other. FIGS. 7 and 8 show the outermember 25 which is hollow and blow moulded from plastics material. Themember 25 has slightly curved front and rear faces 26. At one end of themember 25, the member is thickened to form an end portion 27 from theend face 28 of which a lug 29 projects. As can be seen in FIGS. 11 and12, the thickening of the member 25 is at the rear of the member 25. Theother end of the member 25, defines an opening 30 for receiving theinner member 25A shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. The inner member 25A is verysimilar to the member 25 and corresponding parts are referenced by thesame reference numeral with the suffix A added. The front and rear faces26A of the member 25A are very slightly smaller than the faces 26 of themember 25 and the member 25A is therefore able to be received as asliding fit within the member 25 as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. Resilientbiasing means (not shown) are provided inside the telescopically engagedmembers 25 and 25A so as to bias the members outwardly from one another.The resilient biasing means may comprise a pair of compression springassemblies extending between opposite internal end faces in the members25 and 25A, one spring being towards the top and the other towards thebottom of the members; alternatively the resilient biasing means mayconsist of foam material. Whilst in the described embodiment the innermember 25A has an open end face 30A and the resilient biasing meansextends into both members, it is possible for the end face 30A of theinner member to be closed and for the resilient biasing means to belocated within the outer member 25 only, bearing against the closed endface 30A of the inner member 25A. If desired a stop may be provided tolimit outward movement of the members 25, 25A relative to one another sothat the member 25A is retained at all times partly inside the member25.

The adjusting device described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 11 is usedin substantially the same way as the devices previously described and isshown installed in a cot in FIG. 12. The device is compressed by a useragainst the resilient bias until the overall width of the device,defined by the distance between the opposite extremities of the lugs 29and 29A, is less than the internal width of the cot. The lugs 29 and 29Aare then placed between selected adjacent bars on opposite sides of thecot, and the members 25 and 25A allowed to move outwardly under theaction of the resilient bias until the end faces 28 and 28A of thetransverse wall defined by the members 25 and 25A bear against the innerfaces of the cot bars. High friction strips or pads (not shown) areprovided on the end faces 28 and 28A so that, as a result of the outwardbiasing force, the opposite ends of the wall are held in a fixedposition against the bars. The bottom faces of the members 25 and 25Acan also be provided with high friction strips or pads so as to gripbedding below the wall and prevent movement of the bedding under thewall. As will be understood, the device can be simply removed, or itsposition altered, simply by pressing the members 25 and 25A togetheragainst the resilient bias.

What is claimed is:
 1. A cot including a base, a pair of side walls anda pair of end walls extending above the base, and a transverse wallmovably secured across the cot above the base between the side walls ata position partway along a length of the cot, the transverse wallserving to reduce an effective length of the cot, the transverse wallcomprising individual wall sections that are slidably connectedtogether, the transverse wall being adjustable in length by sliding theindividual wall sections relative to one another.
 2. The cot of claim 1,in which the side walls of the cot include a plurality of upright barshaving inner faces and the transverse wall is dimensioned such that itcan be secured with its opposite end portions bearing against the innerfaces of the cot bars and with parts projecting outwardly from the endportions fitting between adjacent bars.
 3. The cot of claim 1 in whichthe transverse wall is securable across the cot in a plurality ofdifferent positions along the length of the cot.
 4. The cot of claim 1in which the transverse wall is detachably secured to the cot.
 5. Thecot of claim 4, in which the side walls of the cot include a pluralityof upright bars and the transverse wall is secured to bars of the sidewalls of the cot.
 6. The cot of claim 1, in which the side walls of thecot include a plurality of upright bars and the transverse wall issecured in place by the bars of the side walls of the cot.
 7. The cot ofclaim 6 in which the transverse wall is secured in place by oppositeends of the wall fitting between adjacent bars of the cot.
 8. The cot ofclaim 7, in which the opposite ends of the transverse wall pressoutwardly against the side walls of the cot.
 9. The cot of claim 1, inwhich the transverse wall is secured to the cot in a manner thatprevents vertical movement of the transverse wall when it is fullysecured.
 10. The cot of claim 1, in which a height to which thetransverse wall extends above the base of the cot is substantially lessthan a height to which the side walls and end walls extend above thebase.
 11. The cot of claim 1, in which the transverse wall issubstantially solid.
 12. The cot of claim 1, in which the transversewall extends across substantially from one side wall to the other. 13.The cot of claim 1, in which a fastening device is provided to fix thetransverse wall at a selected length.
 14. The cot of claim 1, in whichthe individual wall sections are resiliently biased towards an extendedcondition of the transverse wall.
 15. The cot of claim 14, in which theindividual wall sections are resiliently biased by one or more springs.16. The cot of claim 14, in which the individual wall sections areresiliently biased by resilient foam contained within the individualwall sections.
 17. The cot of claim 14, in which the individual wallsections can be slid relative to one another against the resilient biasto a more retracted condition.
 18. A The cot of claim 1, furtherincluding a mattress and bedding extending over substantially the wholelength of the cot, the transverse wall bearing down on the mattress andbedding to define an effective end of the mattress and bedding.